Friction-clutch.



i. NI. HEWITT.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

Mmc/111011 FILED JULY 15, 1913.

SHEET l.

Patented June 22, 1915.

2 SHEETS Jig/VES [WIWI/ELL 5W/T7' BVH/.SWWMMWWQ A hmmm W/r/YESsfs THE NORRIS PETERS C0.. PHOTGLITHO., WASHINGTON. D. CA

J. WI. HEWETT.

FRICTION CLUTCH.

APPLICATION HLED suLY i5, 19:3..

LSQ@ y Patentedliune 22, 1915. i

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS CO4, PHOTOJJTHQ, WASHINCTUN, D. c.

i l .is I' y1y JAMES MITCHELL HEWITT, OF HALE, ENGLAND.

FRICTION-CLUTCI-I.

rinasce.,

Specification `of Letters Patent.

Patenten .rune 2e, i915.

Application filed July 15, 1913. Serial No. 779,076.

To aZZ whom t may concern Be it known that I, JAMES MITCHELL Hnwrrr, a subject of the King of lGreat Britain and Ireland, residing at Norwood, Cambridge Road, Hale, in the county of Chester, England, consulting engineer, have invented new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Friction-Clutches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to friction clutches, and has reference to a form of clutch or coupling which is at once exceedingly compact, simple and self-contained and adapted to retain lubricant.

It embodies in its construction the known wedging or expansion or jamming principle, simple end movement of a part or of the inclosing casing or other device, or relative movement eii'ecting clutching or unclutching of the elements. This wedging, expansion, or jamming system is made use of by me in the improved types of clutch to be described, wherein all the elements are contained within an inclosed cylindrical container. The elements of this container do not move relatively one to another but the container masks half-sleeves or binders which are separated or contracted to effect clutching and this without relative movement of the elements of the cylindrical casing and without depending in any way (for a clutching effect) on end thrust.

The improved constructions which embody the features of my invention are hereafter fully described and shown in the drawings.

In the said drawings: Figure l is an end elevation, shown partly in section, of a form of clutch in accordance with the invention, the cover plate and bearing being omitted. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the clutch as shown in Fig. l, the barrel being partly in elevation and partly in section. Fig. 3 illustrates in sectional elevation a modified form of clutch according to my invention. Fig. 4 shows an end elevation with the end cover removed. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the half-sleeves or shoes of the device as shown in Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the barrel, as shown in Fig. l, with the sleeve mounted therein, the latter being partly in section.

Referring in the first place to the construction shown by Figs. l and 2. In this combination, I mount upon the driving shaft l a suitable boss or barrel 2 and this is formed with or attached to a sleeve 3 capable of sliding on said shaft l. The sleeve 3 is fashioned to engage keys 4L on the shaft l; or other provision is made for a sliding and driving connection between the boss or bar-.

rel 2 and the shaft l. Respecting the eXterior of the bossor barrel 2, this is machined or cut with grooves or channel ways as for example two grooves or channel ways 5 and 6 upon each side, as shown, or four grooves or channel ways in all. The grooves or channels 5, 6 as to each pair are slightly inclined the one to the other. Fitting over the boss or barrel 2 I apply two half sleeves or eXpanders 7,7 with inclined and inturned edges 8, 8 which engage the grooves or channel ways 5, 6 and so ride on and cling to the boss or barrel 2 as shown. Obviously, under end movement of the half desired. I prefer to move the boss or barrel4 2 by actuating the sleeve 3 in any known or convenient manner.

1 Surrounding the boss or barrel '2 and the half sleeves or eXpanders 7, 7 I fit a cylindrical clutch casing A which is made in two or more parts such as 9, 10 and which parts are bored to receive bushes or bearings 9a and 10a as shown. Ball or roller bearings may be iitted, the application of the former being clearly indicated at Fig. 2. A clutch casing so constructed can thus rest on the shaft and sleeve 3 and bears in two places and entirely envelops the clutching devices. I preferably apply end rings or washers l1, 12 to separate the boss or barrel and the half sleeves or eXpanders from the inner end walls of the cylindrical casing A. While the end of the clutch actuating sleeve 3 is shown turned with a collar or groove 3*, for the starting gear to engage with to work the clutch, it is to be distinctly understood that the boss or barrel may be otherwise worked.

The inclosing casing A is well adapted to be filled with lubricant so that the entire parts may work in grease.

I arrange to take power from the driven casing in any approved manner, as for example the clutch casing may be bolted to the fly-wheel in the case of a clutch for sleeves or eX-` panders or the boss or barrel, the formerl automobiles. Obviously by slightfl modifica,-n

In. the modified:` construction shown Figs. 3 andY 1,1 X upon the driving 4shaft collars 17 and an annular recess 18, and,

I l'ayin the-annular-recess vtwo halsleeves or binding i elements 19, 19` having* 1 oppo sitel-yi l inclinedy and Y outwardly proj ecting- -thi'sA case, the inner wall of the cylindrical clutch fcasingA 'would be cutwitl'i'two sets of two grooves or channels 21, 21,l corre-v` spondinglyl inclined. Thus, as tlie'cylin-f dricalA clutch casingnA is movedfin' one diev rection" or the-other, the half'sleeves: or' bind-A ing .elements 19, 19:l veiiect;clutching or unclntching.

- The vlcylfndrical clutch' casing i'sslownV with aiturnfed groove :orlcollar 22' for the actuating igear: and is vhushed at 23', Q'flfwhere' the shaft .15 i passes through, 1' and,- t-he said;

casing A uis' adapted to--receive andE retainlubricant; Inithisacaseg the clutchfcasiiigl isf movedr -toeffectl clutching andi .unclutching,A

but, thecasing" might be heldand theshaft moved; or. slight movement offbothm'ay bev arranged for. In the* Figs. .3and 4f, power is or may be takenrom theclutch casing periphery. -Gbviouslv infthiscase theJ clutch casing mayk be driven.

A `may be4A provided miams Atwowmovable half sleeves, inclined projectionsl thereon extending in the length of the sleeves, a movable device combining therewith, inclined grooves in said movable dca vboss or barrel liturnedawithvendifvi'ce? engaging the inclined projections, movement of the movable device actuating the half sleeves as described.

2; Ir-incased frictionv clutch comprising aj cylindrical casing, a' removable cover for thecasing, twohalf sleeves Within the casing, inclined projections on the two half sleeves, inclined; recesses in which said projections'engage, relative movement between projections and inclines moving inward and outward the half sleeves to eiiect clutching orun-clutchi'ngas described.

3. An incased friction clutch having a casing, a'l 'cover therefor, two half sleeves withiny thev casing, inclined projections longitudinally of the two half sleeves, an actuator, inclined* recesses therein in which said projections engage, lmeans to move said actuator to-move inward and outward the two half sleeves tobind on or release the casing aslv described;

Inftestimonywhereof I have signed my name to' this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES MITCHELL HEWITT.

Vitnesses:

' if RICHARD WEBSTER IBBERsoN,

v `ALFRED STUART YATns.

Copies-iut. thispatetmayfhe obtineforyve cents each,fby' addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' f #Wavhingtoni, vI): C. 

